Let’s say your customer finds you on the search and clicks the button to book or call you – what’s next? Clients are not very patient when facing an emergency, so the pressure is upon you to deliver exceptional end-to-end service with dispatch.

Every field service technician’s dream is a dispatch scheduling software capable of booking, scheduling jobs, finding the best routes, dispatching crew members, accommodating changes, and keeping an eye on the work progress. Read on to learn how optimising service scheduling and dispatch processes can help you perform tasks efficiently and grow your business.

1. It makes booking and scheduling jobs fast

Dispatch scheduling software, such as Jobber’s plumber dispatch software, speeds up a booking, simplifies the workflow, and digitalises the manual delegation of jobs. Once a client reaches out for a one-time or recurring job, a task is scheduled on the app calendar and assigned to a team member. The same is done for recurring jobs.

In both cases, client tasks are organised, enabling your team to deliver exceptional services across many sites. Using software to automate tasks allows customers to book your services fast, minimises unproductive conversations, and lets you fill up your job calendar confidently.

2. It minimises dispatching errors

If you’re a visual type of person, you’ll enjoy using a dispatch scheduling software that allows you to personalise the calendar by colour coding team members, assigned tasks, and the job status. Creating a custom calendar minimises human errors that lead to underbooking, booking, and double-booking of a crew member.

One glance at the calendar, and you’ll see who has been scheduled for the day, week, or month. The grid view shows each team member’s calendar, whereas the map view shows where a team member is assigned. Lastly, the list view shows the appointments on a day-to-day basis.

Overall, a dispatch scheduling software makes the workflow transparent and facilitates collaboration with other crew members. If the assigned crew can’t make it, an available team member closest to the site based on GPS can be assigned to provide services.

3. It reschedules and reassigns with ease

Even the most thought-out schedules can change. Using a smartphone, a team member can easily change schedules even while on the field – and your teammates will receive a push notification, automatically advising them of the changes.

The calendar is drag and drop, so it’s a breeze to assign new tasks to a different crew member or team. Rescheduling and reassigning are done with just a few clicks, so all staff members will always stay on schedule – with no more going back and forth.

4. It improves customer satisfaction

Service scheduling and dispatch optimisation improves service reliability and consistency, boosting customer trust ratings. No matter how great your team is, the opportunity will fall through the cracks if they don’t get to the job site on time. Expect a bad review that will pull down your ranking among your competitors.

Dispatch scheduling software allows you to remain flexible whatever the circumstances are. For instance, if it’s snowing heavily or your crew member got lost or can’t make it on time, you can proactively inform the client and offer to reschedule or reassign. Chances are, some of the clients may still be miffed, but a majority will appreciate the transparency and the quick action.

5. It increases profitability

Many processes can be done 24/7 with dispatch scheduling software, including booking and checking availability, location, and other information. Since this tool enhances operations, fills up schedules, and pleases customers with fewer missed schedules, business profitability is increased.

There will always be resistance to adopting new technology, though – is it worth it? But with a service scheduling software, it’s practically like being able to oversee operations on the field because you view:

• Who is free to dispatch
• Which times can be scheduled
• Job progress

A reliable software does all that and more. It creates estimates, secures approval from the client, documents the transaction details, sends invoices, and collects payments. Having all these capabilities in one app simplifies how you do business.

6. It improves communication with push notification

As a user, a team member can see the notes about the visit, like the hourly charge. As mentioned earlier, informing a team member of changes is done through push notifications on the app. The notes are complete, so it minimises the need for conversation and saves everyone precious time.

7. It offers valuable data

Last but not least, dispatch software is equipped with business intelligence tools, giving you insights into crew member performance and which areas the company can improve the marketing of services. You can even use these tools to track performance according to criteria, like customer satisfaction, order completion, transportation costs, and delivery time.

Plus, business intelligence tools let you access varying datasets in comprehensive formats, such as customisable charts and dashboards. Since these formats are digestible, management can study data efficiently.

Conclusion

An industry-specific software can make your business more productive through efficient scheduling, dispatching, routing, and tracking of work progress. So, when service scheduling and dispatch processes are optimised, your business thrives, and your clients stay satisfied with your services.